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20-Year Journey: Transforming Women's Roles in the US Army, Study notes of History

This toolkit, 'Trust Transcends Gender', provides historical resources for leaders to facilitate conversations about the Army's progress in integrating women into all aspects of the organization since 9/11. It includes a video, an interactive timeline, and a facilitator's guide.

Typology: Study notes

2021/2022

Uploaded on 09/27/2022

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Download 20-Year Journey: Transforming Women's Roles in the US Army and more Study notes History in PDF only on Docsity! “TRUST TRANSCENDS GENDER" FACILITATOR'S GUIDE PROJECT OVERVIEW In the two decades since the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001, a profound transformation has taken place for women in the United States Army. Today, female Soldiers are integrated into every combat arms military occupational specialty and they have proven themselves able and willing to succeed in any capacity. The Center of Military History, U.S. Army Women’s Museum, and TRADOC Command Diversity Office have assembled this tool kit of resources designed to give leaders the ability to have professional and educational conversations with their formations about the Army’s successes and challenges in integrating women into all aspects of the organization. SCOPE This “Trust Transcends Gender” tool kit consists of a collection of resources that examine the historic changes to Army women’s roles over the last two decades. These materials include an historical overview video, an interactive timeline, and a facilitator’s guide designed to provide leaders the ability to have honest and authentic conversations with their formations about why women’s roles have changed and how the Army has accomplished this transformation. These materials serve as both a retrospective assessment as well as a prompt for current discussion. 1 Participants will be able to: Differentiate between institutional policy and the reality of a non-linear battlefield. Attribute values and leadership characteristics exhibited in the featured timeline profiles. Form judgements about the content and share contemporaneous knowledge gained during this period. THEMES Meeting the Needs of the Army: Achieving mission readiness in Iraq and Afghanistan created new and increased combat opportunities for women. Getting the Job Done: Serving shoulder to shoulder with male counterparts, women performed their duties while exhibiting courage, excellence, and leadership. Achieving Institutional Change: As policy shifted, women stepped forward to lead the Army’s transformation into a standards based organization where every Soldier has the opportunity to serve where they are capable. FACILITATED QUESTIONS 2001: PFC Sayra Salas Sanchez/ 2002: CPT Sherry Womack/ 2011: Cultural Support Teams The need for mission readiness in Iraq and Afghanistan created new and increased combat opportunities for women. The need for Soldiers with particular skills combined with the cultural constraints in these countries resulted in women being attached to combat units for special assignments. Eventually, women employed in these types of missions were organized into Female Engagement Teams and Cultural Support Teams. How do you think women serving in these elite warfighting units changed minds about the larger topic of women in combat? 4 2003: SSG Kimberly Voelz Many women served beside male counterparts in occupational specialties that were inherently dangerous. Staff Sergeant Kimberly Voelz and her husband, Staff Sergeant Max Voelz, deployed to Iraq with the 703rd Explosive Ordnance Detachment in 2003. After Max called in the location of an IED, Kimberly was killed by an explosion that occurred as she attempted to defuse the device. What did you find was the most significant aspect of the Voelz’ story? 2005: SGT Leigh Ann Hester Sergeant Leigh Ann Hester was awarded the Silver Star for her actions during a firefight outside Baghdad in March 2005. What was Hester’s reaction to being awarded the Silver Star? How did Hester’s award highlight the challenges of the Army policy in place regarding women in combat and the reality of Hester’s assignment in Iraq? 2006: CW2 Sheila Pressley CW2 Sheila Pressley deployed four times to Iraq and Afghanistan as an AH-64 Apache pilot. Pressley acknowledged that sometimes people were surprised to learn she was an attack helicopter pilot but there was a difference between surprise and disbelief. Pressley remembers having a conversation with a stranger who inquired about her profession. When she told the man she was an Apache pilot, he replied that he was active duty military and that he knew women were not allowed to fly combat helicopters. He asked what she really did and Pressley smiled through her irritation and said, “I’m a rodeo clown,” to which he replied, “Wow, that’s dangerous.” What do you find compelling about this story? What are the barriers that cause surprise and disbelief in people about women’s abilities to perform highly complex and dangerous Army jobs? 5 2007: PFC Monica Brown While serving as a medic in Afghanistan, PFC Monica Brown exhibited extraordinary heroism during a firefight with insurgents. For her actions that day, PFC Brown was awarded a Silver Star. In interviews after the firefight, Brown repeatedly referred to her duty and training. What parts of Brown’s story reflect her commitment to these two elements? What other stories on the timeline highlight or exemplify duty and training? 2008: GEN Ann Dunwoody General Ann Dunwoody was the first woman promoted to the rank of four star general. At her retirement, Dunwoody recognized the male bosses and mentors who helped shape her career. She said these men, “Gave me opportunities that I know if left to the bureaucracy would have never happened. [They are] leaders who opened the doors for me, leaders who looked beyond gender, leaders who could see something in folks that didn’t look like they do. Without their help, I know I would not be standing here today.” What characteristics could be attributed to General Dunwoody’s bosses and mentors during her 37 year career? Have you ever had the experience being mentored by an unexpected ally or being the mentor yourself to someone? 2013: Combat Exclusion Policy Eliminated When reflecting upon the decision to rescind the Combat Exclusion Policy, General Martin Dempsey wrote in an editorial that, “Trust transcends gender.” Examining stories on the timeline, which Soldiers’ stories best reflect this sentiment? Can you share an example in your career, or your life, where this belief rang true? 2015: First Female Ranger Graduates The graduation of the first two women from the Army’s arduous Ranger School was heavily publicized in the media. Why was this particular first so significant? How was this accomplishment reflective of the Army’s efforts to move to a standards based model, so that the best qualified Soldiers, regardless of gender, could have equal opportunities? 6